Price tries hard to keep focus on McDermott, not Fury

Heavyweight prospect David Price is trying hard not to look beyond his Saturday showdown against John McDermott for the vacant English title, but it is proving a tough ask.

With the winner guaranteed a title crack at undefeated British holder Tyson Fury, Price’s predicament during the build to the eliminator in his home city of Liverpool has been a testing one.

Price (11-0, 9 knockouts) is desperate to face Fury (17-0, 12 KOs) as soon as possible, believing that recent evidence suggests his rival from Manchester is there for the taking. At the same time, though, he knows to get himself into a position to strike, he must first see off the threat of Essex journeyman McDermott (26-7, 17 KOS) at Olympia, Merseyside.

“I know this fight is going to be the toughest of my career but it is going to get me to a British title, which is the next stage of my career. It’s taken me three years to get this opportunity, which is longer than I thought it would. I am going to take it,” said the 28-year-old former Olympic bronze medalist.

“I really don’t want to talk about Tyson Fury too much just now, because that would mean I am being disrespectful to John McDermott and looking past him. But that fight with Fury is the one everybody is talking about and, obviously, it’s one people want to see. So let’s hope it’s going to happen soon.”

Fury, 23, has beaten McDermott, 31, twice before. In September 2009, he won on points and then, in June 2010, he stopped him in the tenth round. Both bouts were for the English title.